AA Teccie (Paul)

Hi all, Should anyone be interested , and available, there is an ArbAC workshop at Parkhill Training, Seagrave, Loughborough on Wed. 9th October...your opportunity to find out more and to check if you're operating as a compliant contractor. The workshop is£50 (+VAT) per delegate but this is refunded on application for ArbAC assessment. For further info see AA Approved Contractor Preparation Workshop ? Training and I have attached a course booking form below for your convenience (please complete and return to Head Office, tel. 01242 522152 or email [email protected]) Thanks all and look forward to seeing you there...hope the room's big enuff Cheers.. Paul aa_training_booking_form-0313.doc

Pricing I can't help with I'm afraid but 'reputable' bf contractors...you could consider ARB Approved Contractors or other accreditation scheme memberships. Paul

See the sub-contractor section on the AA website at Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor , and the attached, as a start point. Good luck.. Paul SubContractorChecklist(v1).doc

2 years HSE recommend.

Further investigations as FH is very common on Oak and, according to Lonsdale, only renders the tree likely to fail when decay is very advanced (I've never seen it.) I've also heard that this fungus may be part and parcel of the Oak's lifecycle including hollowing with age. Still doubtless other 'experts' will be along shortly but please don't rush in with the chainsaw. Cheers.. Paul

To save you doing the "knock-a-door-run" you're local Highway Authority might be interested here as the tree is "within falling distance" of the highway. Such a shame as makes a really valuable amenity contribution. Paul

As many have (quite rightly) said before, when undertaking RAs dwell on the 'significant' hazards and ignore the trivial. "Yes, I know...that scratch might become infected and your finger drops off", but, in reality, it's far more important you 'spot', and record, that uneven/unstable ground or unprotected drop etc. where if you "slip/trip/fall" you might stick that chainsaw somewhere you ought not to (see below) AND ensure all on site are adequately briefed AND sign onto the RA to confirm such. At the end of the day HSE investigation / action is one thing BUT invalid insurance, as someone has mentioned, coz not following industry best practice is quite another. Doing a recorded RA before a job is a discipline thing, in my experience, and can usually be achieved, AND the 'significant findings' recorded, in about 5 mins...time well spent I would say! SORRY, banging on, REMEMBER an effective RA is not an exercise in form filling either! There, soap-box removed and if anyone wants more we do a one-day workshop on the subject:thumbup1: Cheers all n please take care out there! Paul SW Safety Bulletin Chainsaw Accident 8 March 2013.pdf

Very quickly (sorry) = one per business...if you need it. WCL are changing and will become a 'lower tier' registration, i.e. not a licence and no fee, for most tree surgeons from 2014. See below. Cheers.. Paul Who_should_register.pdf

Hi Steve, To add my congrats and, in the nicest possible way, I hope you are overwhelmed at the responses on here, both the number and sincerity, amazing. A clear demonstration of what you and your colleagues have done for the wider arb industry both nationally and internationally. From humble beginnings eh?! Wishing you and ARBTALK continued success and growth and THANK YOU so much! Cheers.. Paul

That sounds like the Scarlet Oak ("deep red") Q. coccinea, Red Oak Q. rubra just tends to go red/brown...in my experience. Reckon the leaf could be either. Cheers.. Paul

My guess'd be Heterobasidion annosum but, as always , I stand to be corrected Cheers.. Paul

Something's amiss here. I would (very) strongly advised NOT proceeding with works on a TPO'd tree, as opposed to one in a Conservation Area, without being in receipt of a 'consent notice' issued by the LPA. Whilst in some respects I quite like this approach, particularly for minor works where the TO doubtless has delegated powers, and indeed it may be indicative of a lack of LA resources, nonetheless the consent notice should/must be received by the applicant or their agent (AKA 'you'.) Hope this helps. PS On the original posting issue, 8 weeks determination period for a TPO. If slightly over, or a 'one off', fine but if significantly over and / or a regular occurrence then 'appealing for none determination' See Planning Portal - What to do if your application is refused or delayed where it states: "You can also appeal if the local authority does not issue a decision within eight weeks (known as non-determination). Unless you have agreed in writing to an extension of that period. If you appeal, your application will be out of the authority's hands."

[quote name= The fungi Id part is open book so you can use reference material. If you haven't already' date=' check out the Arbtalk fungi Id app, it would probably be quite useful for the PTI .[/quote] Yep, the fungi ID is 'open book' and hence you can use 'apps' (as above) n 'apps not' , i.e. try the AA Fungi Guide (see Fungi on Trees ? An Arborists? Field Guide ). REMEMBER too, that you have to score 70% individually for each of the two trees inspected else you'll fail (regardless of the overall mark.) Re- Tony, to be honest I'm speechless here and can only surmise that sometimes you can know too much...sounds daft I know but someone said previously it is as much about learning how to pass the exam as what you know. That said obviously you do have to know enough n demonstrate a systematic approach to the tree inspection task. Lastly the 'P&D' assessed is purely fungi, unless of course the trees inspected are infected so maybe the 'AA P&D Guide' might also be of help (see Tree Pests and Diseases - An Arborists' Field Guide ) Good luck everyone...AND, if its any consolation, it took me two goes to get the prerequisite pass mark to instruct it (which I no longer really do.) Cheers.. Paul

Right..."head above the pulpit here", and I'm sure others will put me right ! I considered both species are exhibited here, i.e. G. adspersum (now 'australe' of course...don't know why tho!), the more 'bulbous' / irregular brackets, and G. applanatum, the 'flatter' / more regular brackets which, as I understand it, act more 'kinda' saprophytically. There, I hope this helps but please await Mr Humphries and Mr Croft contribution to "put me right." Now, where di I put that copy of the HASWA 1974 and associated Management Regs. 1999 Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, Relatively speaking, the course is quite detailed with much emphasis on the construction industry, hence its level 3/4, i.e. AA Tech Cert (as was) level. It is quite general, as the name implies, in nature and you won't cover anything specific to arb / treework although there are a couple of questions in the exams 'bank of' relating to chainsaws / vibration (I got the latter.) I found the course very useful to get a wider understanding of H&S, outside of making sure you hold the saw he right way round , and the networking opportunities and insights into other industries was useful. Finally, make absolutely sure you spend time prior to the exam going though 'old' papers as they, apparently, have a limited question bank and they do repeat them...at least that used to be the case. Good luck..n enjoy Cheers.. Paul

Good stuff.. REMEMBER all the none 'arb' AFAGs are now on the FISA website (see UK FISA - The Forest Industry Safety Accord ) Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, Tis that time again for the next in our series of ARB APPROVED CONTRACTOR workshops. This time at Ashton Court, south Bristol - Thurs. 19th September (10am-4pm) This is the opportunity for small businesses to be nominated by a Local Authority Tree Officer etc. and enter the draw at the end of the session for a FREE or 'half-price' assessment (saving £495 & £247.50 respectively.) All businesses are welcomed to attend though. The event is also FoC, with limited nos., so early booking is advised (please email my colleague Jessica directly [email protected] ) and you get to select your own lunch too ('BYO') so no disappointments ...we will stretch to teas n coffees tho n maybe even some nice biccies Hope to see you there. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Ben, As Nick has indicated they are delivered via the AA Branches so contact the Midlands Branch and ask them to get involved (see Midland - MI Branch - - Arboricultural Association ) Cheers.. Paul

Hmmm, not sure I'd include a £35 book(let) in a truck to be honest. Albeit a 'handy' size I see this more as an office based reference book. Be sure to look after it now. Cheers.. Paul

I sat in on one of Kevin's "CABLE-BRACING" sessions at the FR Jones Show and found it extremely useful. He's both very knowledgeable and very approachable and speaks in a language you can understand (unlike some who waffle on sometimes ) Hence, albeit a different topic, but I reckon it's a MUST, if you can. Gofrit.. Paul

Hi there, At least 'in part' this may help in resolving the problem (albeit for BS3998 only) BS3998 Cheers.. Paul

Knowing what you've got, in terms of a tree stock, i.e. where, how old, what species, previous problems/failures etc. would be a good start point I would suggest. In effect surveying the landholding, perhaps following the broad TL (Green, Amber, Red) zoning process for target occupancy to focus the activity and use available resources to best effect. This is the approach many Local Authorities, for instance apply, but the principle is the same for all landowners I would suggest. There, a start, and I'm sure many will follow and add much more. Good luck and I hope the leg's soon recovered. Cheers.. Paul

Danny, very well put and I hope you consider at least using the ARB Approved Contractor standards as a checklist for the business's compliance with legislation, regulation and industry good/best practice. This is a good start point for any arb business regardless of whether you present it for assessment or not. You are absolutely right that there are many arb contractors working to high standards, and indeed I've had the privilege of meeting, and subsequently assessing, many of them. The trouble is that without the third party accreditation probably no-one else knows how good you are and doors which may be of interest / use / 'new avenues of work' (potentially) may stay shut. Don't get me wrong there are no guarantees but with the right marketing and promotion, both you and us, things can happen. Cheers for now and thanks for your posts. Paul

Haha, very funny...I guess it can be a bit like Ribena (my wife does the 'heavy' stuff too, sometimes more akin to port...her blood must be like water ) TTFN.. Paul

Nope, Laetiporus 'YES'...but all manner of unusual things relating to trees n fungi seem to be happening these days. Doubtless Mr Humphries ro Mr Croft will be along shortly to give you something much more useful so I'll adopt a "watching brief." Cheers.. Paul